FINCHforum

I was so excited to be able to see all the species in person that I hadn't seen. I had a lot of fun. I did come home with goulds, owls and Indigos.

Congratulations on your new birds!! Enjoy...pictures please!

What's an Indigo? The only thing I ever heard of like that was an Indigo Bunting & I thought they were strictly a wild bird?

is this the bird? an indigobird?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viduidae

if so they are parasitic and require another birds nests to lay eggs in. The indigobird in the wild uses the estrildid finch nests. Are you going to breed these, it would be interesting to folllow.

No I don't plan to breed any of these. I only wanted to breed once to go through the experience but I don't want to continue to breed but thanks for the information. Also, that isn't the bird I have. I will post pics ASAP.
Thanks.

WooHoo...new finches...Congratulations!!!! I have some whydahs and have kept them in the past also. never bred them but just enjoy watching the courtship flight of the male. They have graceful up and down flight where they make great showy use of those long tail feathers. When the male is not in breeding mode he will get rid of his nuptial plumage and molt to look just like the female. The last 2 I bought .... pin tails, are beginning to get their nuptial breeding colors...needless to say..I have 2 males and not a pair
Super congrats on the gouldians...my favorites and owls are just delightful... you are well on your way to an exotic finch paradise!!!!

As far as quarentine procedures.... there are as many different ways as there are keepers. I ususlly place new birds in the quarenting building...here they get use to the new water, diet, and temperatures that they will be kept. I treat for air sac mites with iverlux. That's about it... I do put white paper on the cage bottoms and monitor the poop. (a microscope is useful). If they have worms or suspected parasites, I will worm them. If they have breathing difficulties, I will treat with antibiotics. If they have dirty vents I will treat for bacterial or for protozoan problems with a sulfur type product.
I don't jump to any treatment other than air sac mites. I have found stress from the bird show, commotion, new home...along with changes in water municipalities, diets (why I alwys send food home with purchased birds that they are just to eating, it eases that one change) these changes are enough to cause a little stress, runny poop, exhaustion, sleepiness, resulting in a fluffed appearance. Many time with a couple of days of peace and quiet and plenty of rest will be all it takes for them to look prime! Sometimes jumping the gun and medicating exhausted , stressed birds can have a bigger toll on their health then doing nothing. My philosophy is not to treat a bird for something it does not have
I also will keep birds seperated for at least 4 weeks, most times even 6 weeks before placing with my other birds.
Here is some good points on quarentining birds
http://ladygouldian.com/node/239
and if you use the search on this forum you will find many members routine. You just have to find one that you are comfortable with and works for you.
Can't wait to see your new birdies and what is the next species you are going to add now that you have seen many